Myogenic foot manipulator



May 28, 1935. H, RYBERG JR 2,002,586

MYOGENIC FOOT MANIPULATOR Filed Dec. 12, 1934 oooooooooooo ooooooooooo ooq ooooooooo INVENTOR.

V HARRY RYEIERE JR. E15- 4 ATTO NEY.

Patented May 28, 1935 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE MYOGENIC FOOT MANIPULATOR." Harry Ryberg, In, San Francisco, Calif. Application December 12, 1934, Serial No. 757,139

1 Claim.

for the purpose of effectually exercising and treating the feet.

In the exercise or manipulation and treatment of the feet it is necessary to have the foot properly positioned while the manipulation thereof is taking place, that is, the bones of the'foot must be held in proper alignment so that the motor points of the muscles are properly treated and for this purpose I have produced apparatus employing electrodes adapted to contact the ball of the foot while the heel thereof is held in a substantially fixed position and employing means for automatically manipulating the muscles of the foot while current is passed therethrough from the electrodes.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a myogenic apparatus for the manipulation of the feet while being electrically treated thru means of telescopic electrodes positioned on the apparatus .and adapted to contact the ball of the foot.

Another object of the invention is to provide a myogenic apparatus of the class described that employs electrodes adapted to automatically contact correct parts of the foot while the foot is being manipulated by the apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus oLthe class described having electhe electric wires are concealed.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus having safety telescopic members employing spring features and means for automatically making and breaking the electric circuit in said electrodes as the foot is being manipulated.

An additional object of the invention is to provide' an apparatus including means for energizing the electrodes only when the bones of the foot are in their normal alignment.

Additional to the foregoing objects is that of providing an apparatus of this class with straps for pulling the ball of the foot downwardly while the telescopic electrodes hold up the middle bones of the foot in their proper alignment.

-Ancillary to the foregoing objects is that of providing an apparatus in which the electrodes thereof strike the ball of the foot, sole and heel while making the proper contact.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent with reference to the subjoined specification and the accompanying drawing in which:-

Figure l is a top plan view of the apparatu showing the telescopic electrodes and the fixed heel electrode, also the various instruments in 5 the electrical circuit;

Figure 2 is an end elevation orthe apparatus with a portion thereof broken away to disclose the motor driven manipulating means of the device;

Figure 3 is a sectional detail illustrating the 10.

telescopic and heel electrodes and the crank means of the apparatus for manipulating the muscles of the foot; a

Figure 4 is a plan view of a modified form of apparatus for home use; and

Figure 5 is an edge view of said apparams.

In the treatment and manipulation of the pedal extremities it is very important that the bones and muscles of the feet be properly exercised while being treated and that the electric current should be passed from the ball .of the foot to the heel thereof pnly at the time said bones and muscles are in normal alignment and for this purpose I have produced a manipulating apparatus that properly accomplishes these objects and one that is entirely automatic in its functioning during this treatment.

Referring toth'e drawing in which the preferred-form of my invention is disclosed the apparatus consists of a cabinet l0, legs H and a heel rest section i2, said heel rest being provided with an electrode plate I 3 upon which the heels of the feet normally rest.

The forward inclined section ll of the cabinet is provided with a pair of telescopic electrodes I5 inclined toward the ball of the foot as shown in Figure 3, said electrodes embodying fixedsleeves l6 and telescoping foot rests l1 and springs i 8 included therein normally hold the member I I in extended position.

Cooperatively associated with the telescopic electrodes is the maniplating mechanism I9 which mechanism comprises discs 20 carried by a shaft 2|, said shaft being connected in a suitable manner by means of reduction gears to the driving motor 22. Connected to the discs 20 are links 23 to which in turn are connected looped straps 2| adapted to fit over the instep of the feet while the heels thereof are resting upon the 50 electrode l3.

The loops 24 normally hold the ball of the foot against the telescopic foot rests I1, and when the motor is started thecrank motion of the links causes the ball of the foot to be manipulated in 55 an up and down motion, the springs l8 returning the electrodes and holding the same in constant contact with the ball of the foot.

The electric circuit, not shown, includes the electrodes l and the various rheostats 25, meter 26 and switch 21, however, as this circuit is considered no part of the invention it will not be described in detail except as to the functioning of the electrodes.

The means for intermittently energizing the electrodes consists of a switch 28 attached in a 7 suitable manner to the arm-29 carried by the links 23 and connected to the switch by a light spring wire 30 so that when the foot is in the correct position, as shown in Figure 3, the electrodes will become energized and the current will pass through the ball of the foot, bones and muscles, to the heel electrode l3 and when the crank motion again draws the toe end of the foot downwardly the electrodes are de-energized by' the switch 28. It is to be understood that a flasher may be used if desired in place of the switch mechanism above described.

It is therefore,'obvious that a gentle yet efrective manipulation of the foot, or feet, is constantly carried on and when the bones and muscles of the feet are in properly aligned positlons current is applied thereto thus rendering the treatment much more efiective than would otherwise be possible under ordinary circumstances.

In the modified forms shown in Figures 4 and 5 I provide an apparatus for home use and this apparatus embodies a small floor cabinet 3| having a heel electrode 32 and resilient pads 33 for the ball of the foot so that the operator may manipulate the pads manually in a rocking motion of the feet to manipulate the same, the circuit being actuated by a flasher 'button not shown, which button makes and breaks the circuit automatically. The electrical impulses through the electrodes 32 and 33 being controlled in this manner by said flasher button.

I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States theTollowingz- In a device of the class described for the treatment and manipulation of the feet, embodying compressible telescopic electrodes and a fixed heel electrode, crank mechanism carrying loops adapted to encircle the foot when placed on said electrodes and adapted to actuate said telescopic electrodes, and means for intermittently energizing said electrodes to cause current to flow from the ball of the foot to the heel thereof.

HARRY RYBERG, JR. 

